Why Is NSF Certification Important?

This is what the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) says about NSF Certification:

"The NSF Water treatment Device Certification Program requires extensive product testing and unannounced audits of production facilities.The goal of this program is to provide assurance to consumers that the water treatment devices they are purchasing meet the design, material, and performance requirements of national standards."

No other independent testing program requires companies to adhere to the strict standards imposed by NSF. From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, NSF is the only third-party testing organization to perform a complete evaluation of every aspect of a product's development before it can earn NS certification.

Most importantly, NSF Certification is not a one-time activity. The NSF is not satisfied to just test a single model of a product and give it their okay. Their certification programs require regular on-site inspections of the manufacturing facilities. In addition, certified products are periodically re-tested against the requirements of the most current version of the applicable national standard. If for any reason a product fails to meet one or more of their certification criteria, they will take whatever enforcement actions necessary to protect the public, including product recall, public notification, or de-certification.

When looking at filters, MAKE SURE that a filter is Certified for Health Effects Standard 053 and 401 and not just "aesthetic effects Standard 42". It is the Standard 053 Health Effects that is important. But just because a filter is listed as "Certified by NSF under Standard 053 Health Effects" does not mean it is as good as Multipure filters.

Unfortunately it is a little more complicated than that; you also have to compare which contaminants the filter has been tested and certified for. In other words, the NSF only tests the filter for the contaminants the filter is said to remove by the manufacturer. But one filter still can remove more contaminants than another. So what you want is the filter Certified by NSF to remove the MOST contaminants. You have to compare the full list of filtered contaminants by one filter against another to get the answer as to which one is better. (I encourage you to go compare for yourself; but I can tell you with the 100% honesty the NSF requires of me: the answer is "Multipure filters out the most contaminants of any carbon block filtration system available".)

Also be careful of the misleading wording you will find on some water filter web sites. "Certified to NSF Standards" is NOT the same as "NSF Certified" and you will know this by their lack of an NSF logo. Please read this easy to understand Fact Sheet about "NSF Certified" vs. "Testing to NSF Standards". Basically a product that says "Certified to NSF Standards" as opposed to saying "NSF Certified" is trying to use the NSF name to impress you but without having the NSF actually inspect and certify their filters! I see this as a little dishonest, don't you? Know the difference!

You might notice that Multipure filter systems are initially a bit more expensive. (The difference is made up for in the long run by the fact that our replacement filters are cheaper than others because you only have to replace them once per year!) That is because they go the extra mile to filter the 6 contaminants in the list, below, (in bold) that most others do not. High quality and high performance usually costs more, unfortunately.

By paying a little extra initially, you get the "NSF-Certifed" designation that your water filter system virtually eliminates Asbestos, Lead, Chlordane, mercury, PCB, Toxaphene and Turbidity, in addition to VOC's or Volatile Organic Compounds like pesticides and hormone disrupters. Seems like it's worth it, to me. (We also have our 880 series which is the only filter system on the market that reduces Arsenic V - a contaminant of major health concern that is present in more and more municipal water.)

You can also order at the Multipure corporate office using the 800 number you'll see on the Shopping page.
If you call ust don't forget to give them my coupon code for our current special offer!

If you have any questions, please contact me here. It is my hope that everyone will get off the plastic bottle habit and Go Green by using a filter that is certified by NSF to reduce the widest range of contaminants!

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